Best Kayaks

Fast with Class. suitable for most conditions and ideal for lighter-nimble paddlers – Excellent design and quality manufactured hull(Aus)and fittings. Comfortable seat with adjustments and ergonomic cockpit. After 5 years of use and… Read more

abuse it still looks cool, works well and travels fast. It can be a bit nervous, especially in a following sea, but responds well with subtle use of the rudder. This is a Ferrari, so 'pay attention' and enjoy the ride! Excellent storage and carries my C-Tug trailer dissembled in the stern hatch. Fast, Nimble, Quality, Value for money. Not much. a little nervous in lumpy following seas?

The Hurricane Tracer - My favourite toy – This is and excellent quality and high performance lightweight 5metre kayak, ideal for estuary, river touring and moderate open water. It has simple… Read more

drop skeg steering and a beautifull durable gloss hull and deck finish. Manouverable and fast for a 175 kg paddler. I have run acrosss oysters and dragged rocks on shore landings - it marks the hull a little but these are easily smoothed off and polished. The hull material is fully repairable if badly damaged but is tough and resists damage well. A joy to go paddling in it. light weight (24kg) good performance and beautiful finish

An excellent Fishing platform – I had a smaller Kayak for fishing but, due to having a mild stroke, I was looking for a reasonably priced pedal style kayak so that I had the choice… Read more

of either paddling or pedalling should I get tired. The Bay Sports 3.2 pedal drive stood out from the pack as it was not only lighter on the wallet but weighed less than most other Kayaks with similar attributes. The extra length and width of the Bay Sports also gave me more stability in choppy or windy conditions. Amazingly, the 3.2 Pedal Kayak comes complete with a Stadium Seat, 2 Rod Holders and a Quality Paddle. Padding on the deck area also reduce heat and fatigue on the feet. As an added bonus I found that Bay Sports also produce a set of wheels which can be added as a permanent fixture on the rear of the Kayak, making for easy initial retrievals at the boat ramp. Simply pick up the front and roll it up to your vehicle. Adding a Depth Sounder proved to be so easy as there is through-hull access to a protected hatch under the front section where quite a different array of transducer sizes can easily be fitted and, with a selection of no less than 6 rails, the extras you can fit are almost endless

The Odyssey Jaspara 450 has exceeded every expectation. It’s incredibly easy to inflate and deflate — using the included hand pump, the whole process… Read more

takes under ten minutes, which makes spontaneous outings effortless.

On the water, it handles beautifully. It’s easy to maneuver with or without the fin, and while it has a naturally large turning arc due to its length, it’s still simple for one person to control. The buoyancy is excellent, giving it a stable, confident feel even in choppier conditions.

Comfort is another standout. The seats are supportive, and there’s plenty of room. We comfortably fit two adults and our two Aussie Shepherds, and the kayak remained stable even with the dogs moving around. The durable material that the kayak is made of is tough enough to withstand their nails. That alone speaks volumes about its balance and build quality.

Aesthetically, it looks great on the water, and when the adventure is over, it packs down easily into its bag without any wrestling or frustration.

Overall, the Odyssey Jaspara 450 is a reliable, comfortable, and surprisingly capable inflatable kayak — perfect for couples, families, and dog-friendly adventures.

Aussie made. Great for touring bays – We used the Saratoga kayaks to tour the bay in Port Stephens the kayaks handled the rough seas well. The kayaks are stable, easy to paddle and are… Read more

small enough to easily transport and carry. We are very happy with these kayaks and would recommend to anyone looking to buy a quality kayak. When we tried out to see how stable the kayaks were when we rolled the kayaks side to side we were able to put the side of the cockpit into the water without tipping. If we fell out. We can get back into these kayaks while in deep water. We didn’t want to get a true sea kayak as we go camping and we will want to take these to hard to get areas.

The new 2013 Cobra Marauder – This is an all new Marauder, a meaner more refined machine than the predecessor that shared its name. The new design comes from Cobra’s New Zealand… Read more

offshoot, and as we know our cousins over the ditch know a thing or two about kayak fishing.

Off the water at near 30 kg bare the Marauder is no lightweight, but for a large chunky piece of plastic it's surprisingly no slouch on the water. The reason the ride is so slick is because of the clever design of the hull. Deep chines and a heavily rockered ski like hull provide wave-riding lift, enhancing it’s ability to step over swells and cleave through the kilometres.

I particularly liked the recessed transducer/scupper set up, a thoughtful feature that gets the transducer up out of harms way whilst providing the best possible fishfinder performance. Other cool things included the handy custom centre compartment, and I thought Cobra’s trademark Xtra Fishy moulded-in measuring tape was a nice touch.

I don’t have many gripes to speak of, except for the positioning of the front flush-mount rod holders, which meant my paddle kept hitting my rods when making an extended stroke. I know the folks at Cobra are good at listening to their customers (as evidenced by the fact they have added the rudder everyone knew it needed as standard on this new model) so hopefully they will fix that at some stage.

Stable, roomy, well thought out, and solidly built, this impressive fishing platform is packed to the gunwales with useful features other manufacturers can only dream of. In my book it ticks most boxes they talk about in their advertising.

This new Marauder is a serious Blue Water fishing platform. If you want an offshore kayak with the glide to make long paddles that bit easier, yet still have the stability to keep you at ease when the action starts happening out there then this is one of the best options you are likely to come across. I liked it; I liked it a lot. Good hull speed, plenty of stability, and heaps of thoughtful inclusions. Rod holder positioning, some hull slap

SIMPLY BRILLIANT – One of the best ideas to come from an Aussie in years. A stable hull combined with a minn kota motor makes for the ultimate fishing kayak. These… Read more

things turn in their own body length, forwards, backwards, sidways. Could do with more carrying capacity / storage but the convenience if this "hands free" fishing more than makes up for it. I can cruise along at 8km per hour with my arms crossed.... SIMPLY BRILLIANT Hands free kayaking, power to burn, brilliant manouverability Hard to find in store

The Brilliant Freak Sports' 1.5kg Folding Anchor Kit – I'm new to kayak fishing and only recently bought my first kayak. In online research, I saw many recommendations to buy an anchor – if you are not… Read more

sure you need one, trust me, it’s worth every penny and more. A random sequence of events eventually landed me at Freak Sports, to buy their 1.5kg Folding Anchor Kit.

Now, having used it several times, specifically in the Bremer River, I can tell you it’s brilliant!

This anchor is pure Goldilocks. Spot-on weight. Kept me anchored firmly in place wherever I chose to fish the river. Caught every time, no recasting required.

The design is very practical too. Simple operating mechanism, a small round rotating metal disc to open or close. Compact, making it easy to store on the kayak or in the Ute. The bag is a bonus.

Have to comment on the quality of the materials used. I’m no expert, but the metal and its coating looks great to me. However, ropes I do know a thing or two about as some of the work I do involves climbing. The anchor rope is well-crafted, I find it to be the perfect diameter for easy handling, and I had no problems trusting it. I bought this kit for $44.95, down from $59.95. For the quality and functionality it offers, it’s a brilliant buy even at full price. But what impresses me even more is Freak Sports itself. The service is excellent! Down-to-earth, helpful, and straightforward. They know their stuff but have no hesitation in freely admitting it when they don’t. Being a newbie, this honesty and willingness to help is something I deeply appreciate.

Comparing this to my experiences at the chain stores, Freak Sports is a stand out. I've had mixed interactions at places like BCF Springfield, but at Freak Sports I was treated with respect and felt highly valued, not only as a customer but also a fellow kayaking enthusiast.

My first choice for future kayaking supplies is Freak Sports, hands down. Their combination of high quality gear, generous pricing, industry knowledge, honesty, and good old school customer service makes them a business I’m more than happy to support.

The likes of the big chains, eBay, and Amazon might at times offer cheaper prices, but if you can afford it then I encourage you to spend your money at Freak Sports. It’s worth it for the advice alone, but more importantly in doing so we enable Australian independent businesses to thrive. That’s good for all Australians, be they present ones or future ones. Need kayak supplies and or advice?

Talk to the guys at Freak Sports.

Love my nextgen11. But we're the bung plug is placed is a poor design to get rid of water in the hull also the rudder design isn't great and gets caught and dragged when launching from the bank .but for comfort and price it's brilliant

Minimalist fishing kayak that can handle some chop – The Hobie Mirage Revolution 13 is one of the older models in the Hobie fishing kayak range. The shape has generally remained the same; however, each… Read more

model (generally released each year) has seen incremental improvements to the seat, mirage drive and/or other fine tuning to keep it relevant in the fishing kayak market. The 2018 model is reviewed here.

The Revolution 13 is relatively long at 4.09m (or 13.5 feet), is made from rotomolded polyethylene (plastic) and is generally marketed as the long range or open water fishing kayak from the Hobie fishing kayak range. It is a slender “sit on top” kayak with a sharp bow that slices through chop, unlike many other kayaks that tend to have either a flared or more bulbous bow - such kayaks have a tendency to bounce around in the chop and are much harder to drive through rougher conditions.

It is one of the narrower fishing kayaks on the market at 0.72m. Only the Hobie Mirage Revolution 16 is narrower at 0.70m. Most other brand fishing kayaks are usually in the vicinity of 0.86m or greater. Most fishing kayaks are going wider to increase lateral stability and to accommodate standing up while fishing. Being narrower means the Revolution 13 is not suited to stand up fishing; however, should such stability be required from the Revolution, Hobie does sell outriggers at an extra cost. Similarly, Hobie also sells a H-Bar which can be installed to assist in the standing position.

Don’t underestimate the stability of the kayak. Hobie quotes that its kayaks have secondary stability built into the hull design. This kayak is surprisingly stable, particular when the seat is set to its lowest position.

Being narrower, the Revolution 13 can move along quite quickly. Coupled with a Mirage Drive with Turbo Fins, the kayak can cruise comfortably between 5 to 6 knots. It can achieve 8+ knots if pushed harder. Being narrower and streamlined also means that this kayak can be comfortably paddled with the supplied paddle. The supplied paddle is two-piece and consists of a fibre-glass shaft and plastic blades. Its shape, although on first appearance looks on the smallish side, does have a surprisingly big bite in the water. This I attribute to its shape. Having the option of paddling instead of the pedal drive gives a good backup should the drive ever have any problems on the water or you simply want to do an upper body work out. Many of the other wider fishing kayaks are not conducive to paddling longer distances due to the need to reach out wide with the paddle.

The kayak is fitted with a removable fold out seat that is extremely comfortable. The seat has many adjustments to enable the user to find their most comfortable position while out on the water. The seat can be raised or lowered, the base can be tilted, the angle of the back rest can be adjusted and there is also an adjustable lumber support. The seat is well built with a breathable mesh material. The seat can also be removed and used off the kayak by extending some short legs that are included in the base of the seat.

The Mirage Drive powers the kayak by using your legs. This frees your hands for fishing and other activities. One hand will, however, be required for the rudder control for steering the kayak. The rudder control is conveniently situated on the left hand side. Due to the sensitivity of the rudder, it is necessary to constantly control the rudder while in motion.

The Mirage Drive uses fins that move from side to side to thrust the kayak forward. It requires a pushing action using your legs while your feet are placed on the pedals. It is a pushing motion as compared to the many other pedal drives which use a bicycle motion to spin a propellor. I find the pushing motion preferable to a bicycle motion from a stability point of view. The circular motion of the many other pedal drives tends to generate a slight wobble. The comparison of the Mirage Drive to propellor drives has been a topic of many debates and forums, and will ultimately come down to what your preference is.

The Mirage Drive supplied with this particularly kayak is the MD180 V2 and has been upgraded with the Turbo Fins. The Turbo Fins are longer than the standard fins usually supplied with the kayak. Rule of thumb suggests that it provides approximately 20% more surface area on the fins, hence more thrust, albeit at slightly more effort.

This particular model drive has reverse, which is selected by pulling a tag/lever and another tag/lever to change to forward. Pulling the tag/lever effectively spins the blades 180 degrees allowing the pedals to work in the opposite direction. This is an effective system which is easy to use. Earlier models did not come with a reverse option and could only move in forward.

The Mirage Drive appears to be a complex drive with quite a few moving parts that are exposed. There is a tendency for the drive to squeak and clunk at times. It is not clear where the sounds are coming from and why, however, the drive seems to function normal. There has also been a tendency for one of the drive cables to come loose. These are tensioned by nylon locking nuts. I have added additional nuts to each to prevent them from loosening.

Whilst operating the kayak, you need to be aware of the water depth and of any debris/objects that may be present. Hitting the bottom and objects while in motion can bend or break the fins off. The Mirage Drive does allow the fins to lay flat against the bottom of the kayak, allowing the kayak to pass over obstacles, thus protecting them from damage. It is also possible to carry out shallow strokes with the drive if needed.

The Revolution 13 comes in a range of colours. Some of the colours change slightly from year to year and have generally been available as a range of single colours and not in the camo format that many other kayaks come in. My preference is the lighter colours as the darker plastic can heat up in hot conditions making it more prone to denting and sag.

As mentioned earlier, the kayak is rotomolded. It is a relatively thick plastic, which appears to be reasonably sturdy, when compared to some of the cheaper kayaks sold. The molding does appear to be a little rough at joins however, the strength of the kayak does not appear to be compromised.

What is important is to store the kayak properly. The instruction manual provided with the kayak stresses that the kayak be stored upside down as it is in its most rigid position. It is common to see many people store and transport the kayak long distances in the upright position. This will result in dents and/or deformation of the bottom of the kayak. The round cross-section of the Revolution’s bottom means that this will be a problem if not stored correctly. It is however, totally avoidable if stored and transported upside down.

Although a fishing kayak, the kayak only has two molded rod holders behind the seat. Any additional rod holders do need to be added at an extra cost. Many of the other fishing kayaks on the market, including some of the other Hobie kayaks, have additional rod holders, track rails and sacrificial plates designed to mount further rod holders, fish finders and other equipment. Space is limited on the Revolution 13; however, the lack of supplied tracks and other devices means that the kayak can be customised to your needs if desired.

The kayak is well set-out and the fixtures included are of good quality. All screws, bolts and bungees that go through the hull are sealed with a flexible sealant. However, there is a lot of burrs remaining under fixtures etc from when the kayak was manufactured.

The kayak is designed to accommodate a Lowrance fish finder transducer with a removable transducer plate being included in the bottom of the kayak. The plate is designed, and the cavity is sized, to take a Lowrance transducer. The hull contains fittings that allow the transducer and fish finder wiring to pass through the hull. The kayak comes with a range of fittings to suit various thickness wires - this ensures that a water tight seal can be achieved regardless of the wire thickness. Hobie calls these kayaks “Lowrance Ready” which suggests that there is a some sort of deal between Hobie and Lowrance. Although other fish finder brands can be installed, some transducers may not fit well and may require some modifications to fix in place.

Because this kayak is relatively narrow, it does not have as much storage space as some of its competitors or other wider Hobie models. It does have a relative large storage area in the bow with a size-able water tight hatch. This is a good area to store larger items. This area required a barrier to be placed within it to prevent items from sliding to inaccessible areas with the kayak - however, Hobie does sell a large bucket designed to fit in this area I have placed two foam pool noodles in this area instead as a cheap alternative this creating that barrier.

The kayak also has two smaller circular hatches, one in the centre and one in the rear. The centre hatch comes with a sealable tackle bucket. The rear does not have a bucket or other container, but does have a spare rudder pin in the hatch. The pin in the rudder is designed to be sacrificial should the rudder hit the bottom or other rigid object. The spare pin allows it to be repaired while out on the water - however, such a task could be challenging if in deep water, rough conditions or if there is no assistance available.

There are two side pockets which are extremely useful for storing fishing tools such as pliers, scissors, knife, or other items such as sunscreen, phone etc. The rear cargo area is also quite generous due to the length of the kayak and bungees are included to hold items there. There is a molded drink holder between the right hand side side pocket and seat. I have found this drink holder somewhat difficult due to its shallow depth - there is a tendency for the drink bottle to be knocked and it tipping out of the holder. This is a common occurrence while paddling and fishing.

The paddle is stored on the kayak on the right hand side of the kayak only. It fits into molded holders and the kayak lifting handle, and secured in place with a bungee. Although the paddle is stored well on the kayak, the paddle blade does catch waves at the front of the kayak when in choppy conditions.

The rudder can be lowered and raised by pulling two handles that connect to the rudder via cords that pass through inside the hull. There are handles on each side of the kayak just in front of the side pockets - one to lower the rudder and the other to raise it. These cords can be difficult, requiring considerable effort at times to lower and raise the rudder. There are times when the rudder needs to be lowered and raised several times to centre the rudder and remove a bias to one side of the kayak. It is not clear why this happens; however, several ups and downs can correct this.

The amount of options available for Hobie kayaks as well as the large range of after-market parts and additions is phenomenal. Modification possibilities are endless; however, are usually at a high price.

The Hobie Mirage Revolution 13 fishing kayak is a minimalist fishing kayak that is also a versatile and well performing paddle kayak. This kayak is designed for speed and can handle open and choppy waters. It will require additions and modifications for improved fishing capabilities and this will be at an added cost to an already hefty price for the kayak alone.

Freedon Hawk 12 – Easy to use and stability for stand up fishing. Easy to launch and remove from the water. Stability is excellent. A slower ride to other kayaks but… Read more

this is due to the increased stability. Able to fit myself with ample gear or even my 8 year old son sitting in the front. For a fisrt time user, it was excellent. stability is outstanding, able to fish sitting or standing a little slow in the water but who's racing??

Ideal for our needs – For many years we made great use of our sit in kayak, a Dagger Drifter II, and loved it. With age we were finding it difficult to load onto our roof… Read more

racks and investigated inflatable kayaks that would be easier to transport. The Razor R2 Ultra received good reviews and is lighter than others we considered. We also were keen to add the electric motor. Razor was prompt in answering our questions and although not cheap, the price looked reasonable. When the packages arrived we found the kayak easy to inflate with the hand pump. Unfortunately one of the seats had a manufacturing fault and was quickly replaced by Razor. I tried to fit the electric motor but its base was too thick for the slot on the kayak. Razor was puzzled as to why, but were ok with me trimming the plastic base to make it fit. We thoroughly enjoyed our first camping and fishing trip with our new purchase. The kayak and the electric motor performed well. Although not as fast as the Dagger, the Ultra R2 moved easily and the craft is very stable. There was one key issue - we needed to reinflate the two side tubes each day. When we returned home we found that there were a number of minor leaks. Once again, Razor was faultless with its customer service and quickly replaced the hull. The Razor seats were ok, but we have upgraded to a firmer, more comfortable seat sold by Freak, the Pro Angler Elite. We have just returned from another week of camping, kayaking and fishing and couldn't be more pleased with the kayak.

Cobra Re-Vision Wave and flatwater – First the bad news, the Re-Vision weighs a hefty 45Lbs so invest in a Cart if its a long walk to the waves. The seat has no shaping for your backside… Read more

and like it's little brother the Strike will give you a sore backside after an hour if you don't add a bit of padding. Those who buy a seat may cure this in flat water but you can't have a Seat-Back in the surf as it restricts your backwards lean which is essential on steeper waves. The metal hardware on the Knee-straps option are low quality and will corrode and snap after a couple of seasons.

That aside, this boat performs well in every other way. It has respectable speed on the flat and tracks well, the length means I can catch waves that are too small for my 3-metre surf kayak yet the gentle rocker prevents pearling on even the shorter choppy swells. it is extremely easy to steer on the wave by simple leaning, almost no paddle work is required and it rides over incoming swells with ease when paddling out.. Able to ride small waves or large, easy to control on waves, decent lake speed. Heavy, not comfortable for long periods without seat padding.

A good entry level and affordable kayak – This is good entry level inflatable kayak suitable for calm waters. It tracks well with the skeg attached and handles small waves and boat wake well… Read more

both in lakes and tidal rivers. I am impressed at its stability. It is very light on the water and easily keeps up with fishing. I've had this kayak for about half a year and used it about 8 times so far.

The paddles are sturdy and provide good power transfer. You won't stay completely dry in the kayak as some water does splash into the kayak when lifting the paddle out of the water.

The seats are not the best and do tend to move around a bit but once you have positioned yourself and adjusted them they seem to work well providing reasonable back support.. Some fastening system to keep the seats in place would have been ideal.

The joins of the side tubes are frustrating as every now and your arms will rub against them. Wearing a long sleeve top helps prevent abrasion or adding an object to raise seat. This is particularly true for shorter paddlers.

I have used a small boat anchor and attached it to the spray cover ropes and this works quite well without any visible stress even in windy conditions.

Paddling against a strong headwind can be difficult but the kayak does make forward progress and keeps its course relatively well.

The material is quite strong and I haven't had a puncture yet and has been pulled up rocky beaches.

It takes about 8 minutes to pump the boat up with a single action hand pump. The kayak does not come with a pump included.

If your looking for an affordable kayak that can be folded up to save space and that you'll use occasionally then this could be the kayak for you. Its practical, easy to use and durable and fun for kids and adults.

A wanderer – As a Scout water activities leader I've paddled many different kayaks at myriad price points, and though the Dreamer sports many positive… Read more

characteristics I really cannot recommend it - it has the directional stability of a puppy in a field of flowers - it's all over the shop. Seriously, it tracks about the same paddling backwards as it does forward. The mold has a place for a skeg and it's sorely needed - alas, as supplied, without the skeg, you're really going to have to work to keep this thing in a straight line. It's possible with good paddling technique of course, but going to be challenging for novices. It is aptly named - one definition for daydreaming is "when attention drifts... When thoughts move to a different place while daydreaming it is referred to as mind wandering". ;-)

Note that it's designed for a smaller person - I'm very much at the limit at 80kg, 182cm - the foot rests are at the end of their travel and I'm still hard up against the rear of the seat.

If you're considering the Dreamer I strongly suggest you take one for a test paddle and compare against other boats.

Bay Sports Air Glide 385 Inflatable Kayak Explodes – Recently I was going to buy 2 of these kayaks from Bay Sports, their website claimed these kayaks were top quality and well-constructed and… Read more

considering the high-end price I assumed that to be the case. I then became aware of someone who had 2 of these kayaks, he had bought them a couple of years ago and had hardly used them and decided to sell. The Kayaks were purchased from Bay Sports by the seller who is the owner of a well-known company and clearly did not need the money and was very genuine and honest. I bought these kayaks obviously cheaper than new cost; they presented as new, were inflated when I inspected them, and it was obvious to me how little they had been used. When I got home, I inflated them again and left them inflated for a couple of days, there were no slow leaks. After the first time we used them, we laid them on the lawn and one of the hulls suddenly exploded with a loud bang, fortunately this did not occur in the water, my wife was paddling this one and it would have been a very frightening experience. Believing they may still be under warranty I contacted Bay Sports to be told under their voluntary warranty the warranty was not transferable, and they advised me: “The reason for this policy is to ensure we are not held responsible for any potential damage caused by the original purchaser that might be passed off as a perfectly functioning product to a new owner.” Exactly how do you pass off damage on a kayak, and in particular one that can be used for an hour prior to a serious and sudden material failure. The hull tube exploded, and considering Bay Sports claims about the quality of their product they may have at least been prepared to stand by the integrity of the brand. In any case regardless of the owner, Bay Sports can still assess a Warranty claim at their discretion, it’s their product they are warrantying and should not be about ownership, if it had been abused or damaged it would not be covered in any event, regardless of ownership. Unfortunately, it appears to me that Bay Sports is another company that uses their Voluntary Warranty policy to avoid doing the morally right and fair thing. It is a Bay Sports product; I would have thought Bay Sports would be concerned about a serious failure of their product which clearly has not performed as they said it would. In my opinion based on my experience with the Bay Sports Airglide 385 it is an inferior product, does not live up the manufacture’s claims, and is not fit for purpose. I am relieved I did not spend more money buying a new one from Bay Sports. As I have no confidence in the Bay Sports Airglide 385, I will not be seeking to repair it, I have no confidence it will not fail again, and I will buy another brand of kayak. I have owned many inflatable boats and kayaks for over 40 years, and I have not had, or been aware of, any inflatable tube exploding and failing as the Bay Sports Airglide 385 did.